RTM 470
GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE TOURISM MANAGEMENT
MANAGEMENT
T/Th 12.30pm – 1.45pm PSFA 310 Prereq’s: RTM 101 or HTM 201
Hi, I’m Jess Ponting your
a
instructor for RTM 470.
A
Before coming to San
Diego
Diego I worked in
a
sustainable tourism in
a
in Australia, Indonesia,
a
Fiji and Papua New
Guinea
Guinea. I love to travel
a
and I am passionate about
making sure that travel and tourism is a
positive influence on destination communities
and their environments. I work hard to make
this class interesting and relevant to you and
your future career. I value your feedback and
I’m always happy to help with any questions
you might have through the semester. Please
read this syllabus carefully as it outlines
everything you’ll need to do to do well in this
class.
Dr. Jess Ponting
RTM 470 Fall 2015
Schedule# 22938
August 25th – Dec 10th
Office: PSFA 450
Ph: 619 594 8499
Email: jess.ponting@sdsu.edu
Office Hours: Tues/Thurs 11am - 12pm
Course Description
Hello and welcome to Global Sustainable Tourism! This
semester will be an exciting journey into the world of
global travel and sustainability. You will learn about
the different pressures, stakeholders, and political
landscapes that influence the sustainability of global
tourism. With a focus on (but not limited to) tourism to
less developed countries, this course will use a variety
of real life examples to explore and critically analyze
the socio-cultural, environmental and economic
impacts of tourism. In addition you will learn about,
and apply in the context of real case studies,
sustainable tourism management tools which can
prevent negative impacts from occurring in the first
place and help to mitigate existing problems. You will
learn to apply all of these skills by designing a
sustainable tourism product based on your own
original market research.
In order to help you accomplish all of this, I will
incorporate a range of learning tools including
assigned readings, classroom discussions, guest
speakers, case studies, and videos. Blended learning
techniques will also be incorporated.
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Student Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this class, you will be able to
1. Synthesize the concept of tourism and
its impacts, positive and negative, from
a local, national and international
perspective.
2. Articulate the economic, social,
cultural, environmental, and ethical
issues surrounding the use of, and
access to, tourism resources.
3. Discuss the direct, indirect and induced
impacts of tourism on destination
RTM 496 Sustainable Whale Watching
communities and their environments in
terms of socio-cultural, environmental
and economic impacts.
4. Demonstrate a working knowledge of key theories and concepts relating to
sustainable tourism management.
5. Assess and critically discuss the sustainability of real life tourism cases.
6. Strategize collaborations among diverse tourism stakeholders and
incorporate established management tools into a plan of action to mitigate
unwanted negative impacts of tourism.
7. Design a sustainable tour with a clear understanding of how each choice
concerning tour inclusions, accommodation, food, and modes of transport
influences sustainability
Course Components
1. Online Exams (120 points; 3 x
40 points)
Dates: Sept 17-22 , Oct 22-27,
Dec 10-20
Based on class discussion,
readings, guest speakers, video
and lecture content. These
exams will test comprehension
of content and themes covered
in class and will consist of
multiple choice questions.
Exams are taken online at any
time during this period they are
open, anywhere with a reliable internet connection. Exams close at 11.59pm on
the last day of the opening period.
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2. Essay (80 points)
Date: November 3rd
The essay is designed to allow you to demonstrate your understanding of theory,
concepts and management tools by applying these to specific cases. Case
study materials and an essay guide will be provided in advance.
3. Group Project (180 points total over three deliverables & peer evaluation)
You will complete a major project in groups
of 4 - 5. A more detailed outline of the project
and its components can be found in the
course documents section of the Blackboard
site for this class. The nature of the project will
require a consistent effort throughout the
semester from all group members to achieve
excellence. Groups will be designing a
sustainable tour for SDSU students based on
original market research. The project will be
assessed over three ‘deliverables’ outlined
below, and a final peer evaluation. Each deliverable will be submitted as a
group effort, each group member will receive a proportion of the grade
awarded for the report according to a review of their performance by their
group members (see detailed group project instructions for details).
3a. Market Research Report (70 points)
Date: October 20th
Based upon market research carried out by the group, a report will be
constructed which makes recommendations for the
design of an educational tour for SDSU students.
3b.Group Project Final Report (85 points)
Date: Dec 8th
The final report will be the main ‘deliverable’ from the
group. It re-present the market research, give an outline
of the destination selected for the tour, and then set out a
fully-costed sustainable tour designed around the
recommendations set out in the market research report and the brief.
3c. Group Project Presentation (25 points)
Date: Dec 8th & 10th
In the final week of the semester each group will deliver a
presentation to the class in the form of a marketing pitch
to potential clients. As well as describing the tour,
presentations should outline how the tour is designed
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around sound market research and principles of sustainable tourism.
4. Online Quizzes (70 points: 7 x 10 points)
Online quizzes related to the assigned readings. They will open on Thursday
afternoon and close the following Tuesday at 8am before class.
Dates:
Quizz 1. Aug 27–Sept 1,
Quizz 2. Sept 3-8,
Quizz 3. Sept 10-15,
Quizz 4. Sept 24-Sept 29,
Quizz 5. Oct 1-6,
Quizz 6. Oct 15-20,
Quizz 7. Nov 5-10.
5. Credit/No Credit Online Assignments (50 points: 5 x 10) Sept 22-24, Sept 29-Oct
1, Oct 13-15, Nov 10-12, Nov 17-19
As part of the incorporation of blended learning techniques five credit/no credit
assignments have been set. Assignments will require you to critically reflect on
video case studies in light of assigned readings. Specific instructions to receive
credit will be provided on Blackboard. Assignments are due by 11.59pm on the
closing date and must be uploaded to Blackboard by that time.
Evaluation
The relative contribution of each component of the assessment is broken down
in the table below. In order to do well in this class you will need a consistent
effort throughout the semester.
Assessment Item
Exams 1, 2 & 3
Essay
Market Research Report
Group Project Report
Group Project Presentation
Online Quizz x 7
Cr/NC Online Assignment x5
Total
Points
120
80
70
85
25
70
50
500
% of Total Assessment
24 %
16%
14%
17%
5%
14%
10%
100
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Grading
Your final semester grades will be based upon the following percentage system:
Grade
A
AB+
B
BC+
C
CD
F
Percentage (%)
93 and above
90-92.9
87-89.9
83-86.9
80-82.9
77-79.9
73-76.9
70-72.9
60-69.9
59.9 and below
Final Mark
465 and above
450 to 464.9
435 to 449.9
415 to 434.9
400 to 414.9
385 to 399.9
365 to 384.9
350 to 364.9
300 to 349.9
299.9 and below
Learning Environment
This course will involve lectures, discussion of assigned readings, in-class
exercises, group exercises, field research, videos, etc. It is very important that
you attend class in order to learn. You are responsible for the course material
covered in class. SDSU’s course management system, BlackBoard, will be
employed to make all course-related communication, syllabus, lectures, and
assignments available to students. In addition, you will be utilizing BlackBoard to
post completed assignments and for group discussions. In case of lack of
familiarity with the BlackBoard system, please obtain immediate training through
Student Computing Services. It is important that the email address you register
with BlackBoard is one you check frequently or you risk missing out on important
class announcements.
Additional Information
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Late arrivals to class and early departures will miss
examinable information that does not appear on
lecture slides.
Please turn off your cell phone while class is in
session.
You are responsible for obtaining all course
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

information and materials, including assignment instructions, missed as a
result of absence from class. Most information will be accessible through
Blackboard.
All written assignments are to be typed with 12-point
Times New Roman font and 1-inch margins. Assignments
are due at the beginning of the class period, and
assignments that are late will incur a 5% deduction per
day (including weekends) in overall grade for that
particular assignment. Email attachments will not be
accepted.
Since writing is an important component of this class,
always spell-check your work before submitting it to the
instructor. Assignments with spelling, grammatical,
and/or formatting errors will be penalized via point
deductions.
Developing academic and professional writing skills is an important part of
your education. As such be sure that essays follow correct essay format and
that reports follow correct report format (further information will be supplied
during semester). Additionally, it is very important that you learn to reference
secondary sources of information correctly and in APA style. As such, correct
format and referencing will strongly influence the grade you receive for
written work. A guide to APA referencing is provided on Blackboard.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
If you need accommodation for disabilities contact
me privately, within the first two weeks of the
semester, to discuss specific accommodations for
which you have received authorization. If you have
a disability and would benefit from
accommodation please do contact Student
Disability Services at 619-594-6473 (Calpulli Center,
Suite 3101) in the first instance.
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Plagiarism
Plagiarism is simply the use of others’
words and/or ideas without clearly
acknowledging their source. As
students, you are learning about other
people’s ideas in your course texts,
your instructors’ lectures, in-class
discussions, and when doing your own
work. When you incorporate those
words and ideas into your own work, it
is of the utmost importance that you
give credit where it is due. Plagiarism,
is considered academic dishonesty
and will be reported to SDSU’s Office
of Student Rights and Responsibilities.
To avoid plagiarism, you must give the original author credit whenever you use
another person’s ideas, opinions, drawings, or theories as well as any facts or
any other pieces of information that are not common knowledge. Additionally
quotations of another person’s actual spoken or written words; or a close
paraphrasing of another person’s spoken or written words must also be
referenced. Accurately citing all sources and putting direct quotations – of
even a few key words – in quotation marks are required. For further information
on plagiarism and the policies regarding academic dishonesty go to the Course
Catalog section on Standards for Student Conduct (41310). This and other
information regarding student conduct can also be accessed at
http://coursecat.sdsu.edu/catalog/UP.pdf
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Statement on What I Can and Can’t Do To Assist You
I will do everything within reason to actively support a wide range of learning styles. I will
also do everything possible to make this class as well-organized and straightforward as
possible so that students may be successful. My concern is for ALL of the students in the
class, making sure that everything is fair, and that everyone has the opportunity to earn the
highest grade possible.
For those who would seek special treatment:
Over many years of teaching I have found that, recently, the number of students who seek
special consideration at the end of the semester has increased. This practice is especially
common among students who have missed quizzes or done poorly on the midterm exam.
Seeking special favors is not fair to all the hard-working students
who have kept up with the course work over the entire semester
and reflects a lack of integrity. Furthermore, university policy
does not allow professors to change grades or permit individual
students to earn extra points without that same opportunity being
available to every student in the class.
If you are concerned about your grade the time to do something about that is right now at
the beginning of the class and throughout the full semester.
If you must have a certain grade in the class to meet eligibility requirements for a major, a
scholarship, athletics, or graduate school then it is your responsibility to see that you earn
that grade. Out of respect for hard-working and honest students in the class, and university
policy, I cannot provide special treatment for individual students. Although it is my hope
that everyone is successful, that will ultimately be up to each of you. The
course is designed to reward your efforts. If you want to do well in the
class you will.
Extended deadlines for “emergency” situations:
You must present written documentation (police report or notice from
Student Health Services, for example) and meet in my office during office
hours to make up quizzes or exams. Otherwise, you lose all the points for
missed quizzes and half the points for a missed exam. Don’t needlessly
lose points by missing quiz and exam deadlines. If you can’t manage
your time effectively, I encourage you to drop the course immediately.
Accommodations for students with disabilities:
I will accommodate students with physical and/or mental disabilities and
will protect student confidentiality regarding disability issues. Eligible
students must provide “Authorized Academic Accommodations” from
Student Disability Services. Please visit that office for details.
Academic Integrity
The faculty and staff demand the highest levels of academic and professional integrity in all
work at San Diego State University. Plagiarism, cheating on exams, copying another
students work, or any other type of academic dishonesty will be referred directly to the
Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities for disciplinary action. You will also receive zero
points on the exam or assignment which all but guarantees failing the class. Most
important, if you cheat you are sacrificing your personal integrity and compromising hard
working and honest students.
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Pathways to Excellence:
To help you get the most out of your education in our school we have put together the
following pathways to excellence. It outlines our commitment to you, and also what we
expect from you in return.
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Tentative Course Calendar for RTM 470
Lecture Date
Topic
1 Aug 25 Intro to Course
2 Aug 27 Key Terms Global Tourism
Patterns Extra Credit Trivia
Competition – Prepare by
studying UNWTO website
3
Sept 1 Trivia Results
Volatility of Tourism
4
Sept 3 Introduction to sustainable
tourism 1 & 2. Online
Lectures
5
Sept 8
Outline Group Project.
Introduction to sustainable
tourism & quantitative &
qualitative research
components.
Assignments/Exams/Activities
Online Lecture: Tourism Organization
Online Quizz 1 opens
Online quiz 1 closes @ 8am
Trivia quiz winners announced.
Reading 3. Ponting & Ponting 2009 California
Sustainable Tourism Handbook pages 4 – 25
(case examples will not be tested).
Online Quizz 3 opens
Outline Group Project. Form groups, develop team
contract, and submit quantitative questions.
Readings 1 & 2 Griffin, T. 2002 and Becker 2008
Online Quizz 2 opens.
Quantitative research survey opens. Complete
quantitative survey by 11.59pm.
6 Sept10
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8
9
10
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12
Review of quantitative research
results. Qualitative research
interviews undertaken in class
Sept 15 Social/Cultural Impacts.
Sept 17 Social Cultural Impacts:
Thailand and Papua New
Guinea Online Lecture
Sept 22 Social Cultural Impacts.
Online Assignment 1.
Barbados
Sept 24 Social Cultural Impacts. Short
Videos on Sri Lanka& Kuta
Cowboys in Bali Indonesia
Sept 29 Online Assignment 2. Sex
Tourism
Oct 1 Case Study: Surf Tourism at
Lagundri Bay Indonesia.
Short Film: The Golden Pig
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Oct 6 Social Cultural Impacts. Film,
Selo Selo Bigfela Canoe Vanuatu
14
Oct 8 Environmental Planning and
Management of tourism
management tools and theories
Online Quizz 2 Closes @ 8am
Online Quizz 3 closes @ 8am
Film Hawaii & Malaysia: Discussion of film
Reading 4. Van Den Hoven 2009.
Online Exam 1 opens after class.
Online Exam 1. closes @ 11.59pm
Online Assignment 1 Due
Readings 5, 6, 7 & 8: Tourism & Sustainability
(2008) Chapter 8 pages 246 – 248 Zooification of
Tribal Peoples; Verger 2008; Weiner 2009; Shay
2010
Online Quizz 4 opens
Online Quizz 4 closes @ 8am
Online Assignment 2 Due
Reading 5: Tourism & Sustainability (2008)
Chapter 8 Pages 211 – 220, and pages 248-251
Doxey’s Irridex.
Online Quizz 5. Opens
Online Lecture – No Class.
Online Quizz 5 Closes @ 8am
10
15
16
17
18
19
20
Oct 13 Online Assignment 3. The
Plight of Porters
Oct 15 Tourism & the Environment
Online Lecture
Oct 20 Tourism & the environment.
Short Video: Environmental
Impacts of Tourism in Jamaica.
Oct 22 Tourism and the Environment
Oct 27 Tourism and the Environment
Oct 29 Environmental Planning and
Management of Tourism
Online Assignment 3 Due
Reading 9: Making sense of Green Certification
for hotels
Online Quizz 6 opens,
Group Market Research Report Due
Reading 10 Pro-Poor Tourism: Is There Value
Beyond the Rhetoric? Regina Scheyvens (2009).
Online Quizz 6 closes @ 8am
Online Exam 2 Opens
Online Exam 2 Closes @ 11.59pm
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Nov 3 Time for Essay
Essay Due
22
Nov 5 Economic Impacts of Tourism
Reading 11. Getting there Greener: The Guide to
Your Lower-Carbon Vacation. Executive Summary
pg 1-6.
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Nov 10 Online Assignment 4 Socioeconomic impacts of tourism
in Jamaica
Nov 12 Guest Lecture
Nov 17 Guest Lecture
Nov 19 Online assignment 5.
Cracking the Golden Egg,
Tourism Development in
Costa Rica
Nov 24 Thanksgiving Week
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25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Nov 26 Thanksgiving week
Dec 1 Sustainability in Practice: Case
Study, Shangri La Fijian Resort
& the Wai Bulabula Living
Waters Project
Dec 3 Time for Group Work in Class
Dec 8 Presentations
Dec 10 Presentations
Online Quizz 7 Opens
Online Quizz 7 Closes @ 8am
Online Assignment 4 Due
No Class
Online Assignment 5 Due
No Class
Group Project Questions Answered
Group Assignment Due
Peer Review Conducted in Class. Final Exam
Opens, closes Dec 15th 11.59pm
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